Hookless chain



Dec. 8, 1931. F, WARNER 1,835,359

HOOKLESS CHAIN Filed Aug. 11, 1928 @ed rfeer 7g/4gb vttorzgey'.

Patented Dec. 8', 1931 UNITED sTATEs erENr orties FRED L. WARNER, OF INDIANAPOLISKINDIANA, ASSIGNOR'TO LINK-'BELT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS HooKLEss CHAIN Application filed August 11, 192,8. Serial No. 299,052.

This invention relates to a chain, and particularly to a chain link. It has for one obj ect to provide a chain link of the type known as a hookless link which is formed of a single piece of sheet metal. Another object is to provide such a link which is formed so as to produce a partially rounded pintle without hooksand in which the pintle itself is formed from portions' of a iiat piece ol metal by means of severing and bending. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein# Figure l is a plan view of one of the links after the metal has been severed and before it has been bent;

Figure 2 is a generally similar view after the bending operation is completed;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the link shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a` plan view of a chain formed from the links shown in Figures l, 2 and 3;

Figure 5 is a side elevation ofthe complete cham.

Like parts are designated by like characters v throughout the specification and drawings.

The link is formed generally of a single unitary flat member. A portion of the center of the member is severed or removed or punched out. This portion is indicated by the letter A. The remaining parts of the link form side members A1, A1 and end of transverse members A2, A2. Portions of the center of the link member A3 remain after the severing operation. These are severed from the side members A1 as at X. After the severing operation the members A3 are bent downwardly and rounded as shown particularly in Figures 2 and 3 andthey form a part of the pintle. The outer edges of the members A2 are bent downwardly as at Y toward the outer edges of the members A3. Thus the members A2 and A2 when bent form together a pintle.

A plurality of links shown in Figures l, 2 and 3 are assembled in a chain and each of them is joined to an adj acent one by means of a flat link B. This link is provided with curved ends B1 which are introduced into the opening in the previously described links and are then bent downwardly until they touch or come close to the main body of the link B. In this manner a chain is formed without hooks and is not a demountable chain. In order to separate the parts, it is necessary to bend and distort the links B. The links B may be perforated as at B2 to provide for the attachment of slats or any other suitable additional member.

It will be realized that while l have shown an operative device, many changes might be made in the size, shape, number, relation and disposition of parts without departing materially from the spirit of my invention, and I wish therefore that my description and showing be considered as in a large measure diagrammatic.

Theuse and operation of this invention are as follows:

The punched links are formed as shown particularly in Figures l, 2 and 3. They are then assembled in any suitable quantities and are oined as assembled by means of the flat links whose ends penetrate into the center of the punched links and then bend about the pintle portions of those links to form the chain shown in Figures 4 and 5.

I claim:

l. A chain link formed of a single unitary sheet member having a pair of identical tongues formed within the body of the link and bent outwardly toward the outer edge of the link to form pintles.

2. A chain link formed of a single unitary sheet member having a pair of identical tongues formed within the body of the link and bent outwardly toward the outer edge of the link and curved toward the outer edge.

3. A chain link formed of a single unitary sheet member having an interior cut-away portion permanently severed from the link,

a pair of identical tongues ormedwithin -7 portion permanently severed from the link,

a pair of identical tongues formed within the body of the link and bent outwardly toward the outer edge of the link and curved toward the outer edge.

5. A chain link formed of a single unitary sheet member having an interior cut-away portion permanently severed from the link, a pair of tongues formed within the body of the link and bent outwardly toward the outer edge of the link and curved toward the outer edge, said outer edge being'downwardly bent toward the adjacent edge of said tongue portion.

G. A symmetrical chain link formed of a single unitary sheet member having an interior cut-away portion permanently severed from the link, a pair of tongues formed within the body of the link and bent outwardly toward the outer edge of the link and curved toward the outer edge, said outer edge being downwardly bent toward the adjacent edge of said tongue portion.

7. A chain link formed of sheet member having' a pair of tongues formed within the body of the link and bent outwardly toward. the outer edge of the link and curved toward the outer edge, said outer edge being downwardly bent toward the adjacent edge of said tongue portion, said a single unitary curved tongues and said curved edge forming together a pair of oppositely placed pintle members. l

8. A chain link formed of a single unitary sheet member having a pair of tongues formed within the body of the link and bent outwardly toward the outer edge of the link and curved toward the outer edge, said outer edge being downwardly bent toward the adjacent edge of said tongue portion, said curved tongues and said curved edge forming together a pair of oppositely placed pintle members, the curvature of said members being substantially on the arc oi'f a circle.

9. A chain link formed of a single unitary sheet member having a pair cf tongues formed within the body of the link and bent outwardly toward the outer edge of the link an d curved toward the outer edge, said outer edge being downwardly bent toward the adjacent edge of said tongue portion, said curved tongues and said 'curved edge forming together a pair of oppositely placed pintle members, the side portions of said link being olf-set so that said pintles eX- tend equally above and below said portions.

10. A chain link formed of a single unitary sheet member having a pair of identical tongues formed within the body of the link and bent outwardly toward the outer edge of the link and curved toward the outer edge,

said outer edge being ,downwardly bent toward the adjacent edge of said tongue portion, said curved tongues and said curved a pair of oppositely the curvature of said edge forming together placed pintle members,

FRED L. WARNER. 

